@thegoanonline FRIDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2025 GOA Honouring the dreams, joy and wonder of childhood Managing juvenile diabetes cleverly to lead life actively Page 8 Blinding lights: High-beam problem on our streets Skoda Octavia RS: Fast, focused, and fun IN SHORT >> 8 killed as car gets crushed between two trucks in Pune PUNE: Eight persons were killed and 14 others injured after a car got crushed between two large container trucks with a huge fire engulfing all three vehicles on the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway here on Thursday evening, police said. The horrific incident involving multiple vehicles took place on Navale Bridge, infamous as an accident-prone stretch. Land grab: SIT files four chargesheets PANAJI: As a probe into a series of land-grabbing cases is underway, the Special Investigation Team of the Crime Branch has filed four chargesheets -- running into hundreds of pages before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Mapusa -- within two weeks against alleged mastermind Mohd Sohail and his associates.  >> See pg 3 Rama case: Custody of accused extended PANAJI: The Judicial Magistrate First Class on Thursday extended the judicial custody of alleged history-sheeter Zenito Cardozo and seven others in connection with the attempted murder of activist Rama Kankonkar on September 18. The custody has been extended by 14 days, till November 26, when the court will review the matter again.  >> See pg 3 Three trawlers seized for illegal fishing PANAJI: In a joint operation, the Fisheries Dept and Coastal Police seized three Karnataka-based trawlers for allegedly entering and fishing in Goan waters. The vessels were intercepted off the Vasco coast. WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 31.5 C 21.2 C 87% The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 147 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 2 Sweet deal brewing for Sanjivani sugar factory Implement ST quota, honour Birsa Munda’s legacy: UTAA GVK to govt Page 6 Facebook.com/thegoan GOA INFO Forest dept seeks govt nod to participate in tiger census Budwig Diet: Is it effective against cancer? GOVT PLANS `  30 CR REVAMP UNDER PPP MODEL 1 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a bid to revive the Sanjivani Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Limited (SSSK) -- the State’s lone sugar factory located at Dharbandora which is been shut since 2019 -- the State government has proposed redevelopment of the sugar factory at a cost of Rs 130 crore under the public private partnership (PPP) model. The government has invited Request for Proposal (RFP) bids to modernize the sugar factory with a new crushing capacity of not less than 3,500 tons of cane per day (TCD) and establish an ethanol distillery of at least 75 KLPD, along with an ENA bottling plant and a petrol pump. The RFQ was floated after undertaking a fresh feasibility study to align the industry with global markets by exploring new high-value sugar types. “The Directorate of Agriculture intends to undertake the re-development of the existing SSKL plant for a sugarcane crushing capacity of not less than 3,500 TCD along with the setting up of a bottling plant SOON, A NEW LEASE OF LIFE „„Govt has invited Request for Proposal bids for modernization „„Upgraded factory must have a crushing capacity of at least 3,500 tons of cane per day „„Proposal includes setting up an ethanol distillery of minimum 75 KLPD capacity „„Also includes plans for an ENA bottling plant and a petrol pump „„Fresh feasibility study to align project with global market standards and explore high-value sugar types „„Total land available for development is approximately 2,40,000 sq mts „„Bid submission deadlines: In online mode by January 6, 2026 and physical submission by January 8, 2026 and an Ethanol production plant of capacity not less than 75 KLPD through Public Private Partnership (on Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer basis, and, therefore intends to short-list suitable Bidders for awarding the Project through a transparent competitive bidding process,” the RFP stated. The total land area available for development is approximately 2,40,000 sq metres. Docs plotted via Swiss app, readied 32 cars for blasts CHILLING DETAILS EMERGE; BLASTS WERE TO BE REVENGE ATTACK FOR BABRI DEMOLITION The last date for submission of bids in online mode is January 6, 2026, while in physical mode it should be latest by January 8. As per RFP, at present, sugarcane is cultivated in about 550 Ha, producing about 60,000 tons of sugarcane per year in Goa. In addition, the SSSKL had been sourcing sugarcane from nearby areas in the neighboring States, before it was shut down from 2019-20 crushing season. Previous attempts to revive the factory through private investors failed miserably. While in 2022, the two bidders, who opted for the Request for Qualification bid, failed to qualify, in 2024, not a single bidder showed interest. The ailing SSSK -- Goa’s lone sugar factory -- closure has significantly impacted more than 700 sugarcane farmers in the State, who for the past three to four years relied on the hope to see its revival, before a large number of them shifted to cultivation of other crops and are either no longer growing sugarcane or the production is much below what it was in the past. No change in ZP election, polling to be held on Dec 13: Sawant THE GOAN I NETWORK ploded on Monday, and his team used a red EcoSport car, which has been seized from Faridabad, to transport and stockpile ammonium nitrate over time. Describing Umar as the most radicalised member of the module and the bridge PANAJI The State government has ruled out any postponement of the upcoming Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections, confirming that polling will take place on December 13 as initially announced. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, speaking to The Goan, reaffirmed that the government has no plans to defer the polls. “There will be no change in the ZP election schedule. It will be held as announced,” he said. The clarification comes after the Chief Electoral Office (CEO) wrote to the government suggesting a postponement of the polls until the completion of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The final publication of the updated rolls is scheduled for February 7, 2026. Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Goel had earlier stated that the notification for the >Continued on P10 >Continued on P10 PTI NEW DELHI The three doctors linked to Faridabad's Al Falah University, who are under the scanner for the deadly car blast near the Red Fort on Monday evening, were in constant contact through a Swiss communication app called Threema, the police said on Thursday. DELHI BLAST Bomb disposal teams examine the site of the car blast near Red Fort, New Delhi on Thursday. It was also revealed that 32 cars -- including a Maruti Suzuka Brezza, Maruti Swift Dzire, and a Ford EcoSport -- were being prepped to carry explosive materials and/or deliver bombs. The cars were meant to be part of a serial 'revenge' attack targeting multiple locations, including six in Delhi on December 6. The three suspects -- Dr Umar Un Nabi, Dr Muzammil Ganaie, and Dr Shaheen Shahid -- allegedly used the encrypted messaging app to plan and coordinate their activities related to the terror conspiracy, they said. Investigators also suspect that Umar, the man behind the wheel of the car that ex- WITH HIGH STAKES AT THE GRASSROOTS… BJP begins hunt for potential winners in Zilla polls THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA he Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday kick-started its candidate selection process for the upcoming Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections in North Goa, with party president Damu Naik chairing a marathon meeting of senior leaders and MLAs at the North Goa District office in Mapusa. The closed-door meeting, which began in the morning and stretched late into the evening, was attended by several core committee members and legislators from across the district. The focus was on finalising names of potential candidates and assessing the party’s T „„BJP’s organisational larity, track record, and strength, influence in performance at panchayat key constituencies level assessed to guide „„Move is part of BJP’S selection process BJP’s broader plan PLAN OF to reinforce its „„Party aims to strike a balance ACTION base at local level between experiand ensure strong enced members and representation across new entrants to strengthen constituencies grassroots presence „„Final list of BJP can„„Candidate selection didates expected to be being guided by factors like announced within the next candidate’s local poputwo to four days ground strength in key constituencies. Speaking to reporters, State BJP president Damu Naik said that the candidate list would be out soon. “We held detailed discussions with senior leaders and MLAs to identify strong candidates for the Zilla Panchayat elections. In several constituencies, the decisions were unanimous. We expect to announce the names within the next two to four days,” Naik said. Party sources indicated that the BJP leadership has sought to strike a balance between experienced members and fresh faces to consolidate its base at the grassroots level. “The emphasis is on winnability and performance at the panchayat level,” a senior functionary revealed. The BJP’s preparations come even as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has reportedly requested the government to consider postponing the ZP elections until after the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise is com- pleted. Political observers note that the BJP enters the ZP race with confidence, buoyed by its strong showing in the previous elections and a relatively fragmented opposition. “Unless the opposition camps get their act together and agree on joint candidates, the BJP is expected to retain its dominance in most seats,” a local political analyst said. The State Election Commission had recently announced the reservation pattern for the upcoming ZP constituencies in both North and South Goa, paving the way for parties to finalise their candidates. Meanwhile, BJP sources said a similar exercise for South Goa would follow shortly. 11 SPORTS India’s batting depth faces spin test as South Africa series begins 14 Bidding gains ground for Bainguinim waste plant Six firms in fray under RFQ process THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Six companies, including the firm that operates Goa’s Saligao solid waste treatment plant, have submitted bids for the long-awaited solid waste management project at Bainguinim under the Request for Qualification (RFQ) process floated by the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC). The corporations said that  Hyderabad Integrated MSW Ltd,  Hindustan Waste Treatment Pvt Ltd,  3R Management Ltd, Srinivas Waste Management Services Pvt Ltd,  Organic Recycling Systems Pvt Ltd, and HNB Engineers Pvt Ltd  have responded to the tender. A senior GWMC official explained that the RFQ stage is the preliminary part of the bidding process, aimed at identifying technically and financially qualified firms with the capability and experience to execute major waste management projects. “Following the RFQ stage, GWMC will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to the shortlisted firms to submit detailed technical and financial bids for setting up and THE ROAD AHEAD log on to thegoan.net „„GWMC will scrutinize documents submitted by the 6 participating firms „„Shortlisting of eligible bidders will be done based on technical and financial qualifications „„Request for Proposal will be issued to shortlisted firms for detailed technical and financial bids „„Evaluation of RFP submissions will follow to select the most suitable firm „„Final contract awarding will take place after completing all due procedures operating the Bainguinim waste management facility,” the official said. He added that the corporation will now scrutinize the documents submitted by the six companies before shortlisting eligible bidders. “This is a huge project which needs to follow all due procedures. Naturally, the awarding of the final contract will take some time,” the official said. The GWMC had earlier extended the deadline for submission of bids to November 10, after the initial deadline of  October 31  expired. The extension was granted to allow prospective bidders FLASHBACK Originally proposed in 2019, the Bainguinim project has faced repeated delays owing to technical hurdles, administrative bottlenecks and local opposition more time to finalise their submissions. The tender invites bidders for the  design, engineering, financing, construction, supply, installation, commissioning, performance run and operation and maintenance of a 100-tonneper-day (TPD)  solid waste processing facility at Bainguinim for a  15-year concession period. Originally proposed in  2019, the Bainguinim project has faced repeated delays owing to technical hurdles, administrative bottlenecks and local opposition. Crime Branch: No evidence against IAS, PWD officers SAYS POOJA HAS NOT ACCUSED ANY MINISTER THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Crime Branch on Thursday said that its preliminary inquiry into the jobs-for-cash case has so far found no evidence implicating any government functionary. The prime accused, Pooja Naik, has also not accused any minister in her statement to the inquiry officers, contrary to her claim in an interview with Prudent Media last week. JOBS-FOR-CASH SCAM Addressing a press conference at the Crime Branch office in Ribandar, Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta said that after four days of preliminary inquiry, there is nothing on record to substantiate Naik’s allegations “as of now.” “There is nothing on record regarding any government „„After four days „„Naik mentioned of inquiry, no two officials — an evidence has IAS officer and a WHAT been found to PWD officer — SP RAHUL and described support Naik’s GUPTA allegations alleged transactions SAID „„Nothing on record implicates „„No evidence has any govt functionaries at been found for these this stage claims so far functionaries. In her statement, she mentioned two government functionaries (an IAS officer and a PWD officer) and gave details about how the transactions allegedly took place. We have not found any evidence to corroborate the allegations so far,” Gupta said. He clarified that although she has named people in her statement, Naik has not accused the minister of involvement. Naik had claimed that bribe money was exchanged at two Porvorim offices and even at the Secretariat between 2019 and 2021. The SP, however, stated that this claim also did not stand scrutiny. “We questioned the owner of one flat, who told us that only hotel management students had been staying there, and that no government official or suspicious activity took place at the premises. Hence, this particular allegation has not been >Continued on P10